Heather Stanning and Helen Glover on their way to Olympic gold in the women’s pair.
Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

When Heather Stanning and Helen Glover waited on the start line to defend their title in the women’s pair, they had never lost a single race together. Seven minutes and 18 seconds later they had still not. Having led from the front in their traditional show of dominance, they crossed the finish line as double Olympic champions.

Stanning lifted her partner into the air as they stepped off the boat and on to the pontoon. The pair are usually models of poise and nervelessness – celebrations can sometimes seem an afterthought to them – but they have been concealing some not inconsiderable feelings.

“I’ve been so emotional this week and that’s not me at all,” said Stanning, the army major who followed her 2012 medal with a tour of Helmand Province. Their victory in London was Team GB’s first gold of the Games but Stanning said this one had been an even greater achievement. “It means so much more,” she said. “We put an awful lot of pressure on ourselves.

“I know it was a home Games and there’s nothing more special but this was defending a title. This is not being good once, it’s being good every day, every race. It just feels so good with all the pressure we put on ourselves. It’s pretty immense.”

For Glover gold in 2012 was “something you feel you’ve managed to do … but defending that title is something really, really special. The first time it was all new to us, this time round we crossed the line and we were Olympic champions, rather than realising it six months later. We both felt it more this time.”

Stanning and Glover have dominated the women’s pair category for four years – this was their 39th consecutive win – and they bossed this race in the style to which they, and the opposition, have become accustomed.

By the 500m mark they had gained 13 metres on Denmark, the only team to have challenged them in this competition. In the heat Hedvig Rasmussen and Anne Andersen had occasioned a rare mis-step from the British women, who were forced to come from behind to win. Stanning and Glover left them for dead on Friday and at halfway were 3.38sec in front of the nearest boat.

It might have been a repeat of their victory in London were it not for a brave effort from New Zealand’s Rebecca Scown and Genevieve Behrent, who pulled back their lead in the final third, while never looking close to overcoming them.

“It’s not done until it’s done,” said Stanning. “We knew it was important to get a good start and that’s what we did.” And then, with a smile of self-criticism, she added: “To be fair I think my first stroke was pretty shoddy. I was a bit slow reacting compared to what I can do.”

It is worth remembering that their gold medal at London was not only the first of those Games for Britain but the first ever in British women’s rowing. Only Anna Watkins and Katherine Grainger have added to that tally.

Stanning and Glover were quick to pay tribute for their all-conquering success to their coach, Robin Williams, who battled bladder cancer during the last Olympic cycle while turning them into an all-conquering force. Glover’s voice caught in her throat as she spoke about Williams. “He’ll be embarrassed because he’s so modest. But every stroke we take is thanks to him. He was up cycling and coaching when he should have been in bed.” Stanning chimed in: “Without him we’d be nowhere.”

Three years ago the close friends had briefly gone their separate ways. Stanning took her tour of Afghanistan, overseeing unmanned aircraft for the Royal Artillery. She did not see water for months but kept up her training in the arid land of Helmand Province, running with dust in her lungs, busting ergos in the army gym. Glover, meanwhile, took a world championship title with a new partner, Polly Swann.

Both women are once again approaching major changes in their lives. In three weeks Glover will marry the wildlife presenter Steve Backshall; she is keen to accompany him on his nature travels and – as befits her winningly charismatic nature – possibly have a go in front of the camera. Stanning has her new responsibilities as a major to attend to – she was promoted eight months ago – and will return to staff college next year.

So will they consider returning again for Tokyo? “We’ve got to get Heather married before then,” said Stanning, joking. She will be maid of honour at the ceremony in Cornwall, where Glover grew up. “I haven’t really done anything for it, I’m relying on my mum,” said Glover, smiling. “My dad’s got a family ice cream shop so we’ll be served ice cream. That’s all I know at the moment”

Still, no one should bet against them going for a third gold in 2020. “We love it, we enjoy this,” said Glover. “And walking away would be a really big thing.”